Railway signaling



March 10. 1925.

H. S. YOUNG RAILWAY SIGNALING Filed Sept. 9, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RN RN Muwr m mv NR b, q; M 3v Q U x kw nwv T R R {EIENTORZ H. S. YOUNG RAILWAY SIGNALING March 10. 1925.

Filed Sept. 9, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

U N l TED ST A TBS PA'T ENT *OFFICE.

HENRY S. YOUNG, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSXDVAZNIA, .ASSIGNOR. TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, .OF SWI$SVALE,IIPENNSYLVANIA, .A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANLA.

RAILWAY vSIGih'l'AI-JING.

Application filed September Be it known that I, HENRYS. YoUNo, a citizen of the United States, residin at lvillqinsljuirg. in the county of Alleg ieny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling, of which the following is a sperification.

My invention relates to railwaysignaling, and particularly to signaling forstretehes of single track over which traflic moves in both directions.

1 will describe two forms of signaling apparatus einliodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. .1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of signaling apparatus embodying my invention. and 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification of portions of the apparatus and also embodying my iiivention.

Similar reference chara ters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference clniracters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a stretch of single track between .two passing sidings X and X. The stretch of 9, 1924. ,SerialNo. 736,698.

these transformers is connected with a source of alternating signaling current which is not shown in the drawing.

Located at the left-hand end of the stretch of track A-D is a line relay L and an auxiliary relay E Located at the right hand end of the stretch is a line relay L and an auxiliary relay E The auxiliary relayE is preferably so designed as to have the characteristic of not closing its front contacts for a considerable interval of time after .the relay beomes energized; in other words,'this is preferably a slow pickup relay. The other auxiliary relay E however, is"0f the usual type, and therefore closes its front contacts immediately after the relay becomes energized.

Line relay L is provided with a pick-up circuit which passes from terminal F of a suitable source of current through contact 4 of track relay T wire 5, back contact 6 of relay E ,.wire 7, contact 8 of track relay T wires 9 and 10, contact 11 of track relay T, wires 12 and 13, winding of relay L and wire 14 to terminal K of the same source of current. This relay is also provided with a stick circuit which is the same as the pickup circuit up to and including wire 9, and from wire .9 it passes through wire 15, con

i -la truck i divided by insulated joints 'tact 16 of relay L wires 17 and 13, winding into a middle or main track section B-C, :1 short preliminary track section A-'B at one end of the main section, and a short preliminary section C-D at the other end of the main section. At the points A and D only one track rail is divided by the insillutctl j ints, whereas at the points Band 1 both rails are divided by suclrjoints. Inasmuch as the railway track shown in the ll'dWiltQ' is designed for an electric railway, bonds 3 are provided to conduct the propulsion urrent around the rail joints at points B and (K The main track section BC is provided nith a track circuit comprising a transil'wni r D and a track relay T Thepreliminary section A-B is provided with a similar tracl: circuit comprising a trans- 'f llilti' D and a track relay T and the ther preliminary section C-D.is;provided with a track circuit comprising .a transl oimei D and a track relay T Thesecondary of each transformer Dhis connected across the track rails througha currentQlimiting impedance, andlthe primaryofieah of of relay L ,.and wire 1 1 to terminal K of the source of current.

Line relay L is provided with pick-up and stick circuits which are similar to those for relay L that is, the pick-up circuit for relayIf is controlled by contat 18 of track relay T", contact 20 of the track relay T back contact 22 of relay E and contact 95 of track relay T The stick circuit for reley :L is controlled by track relay contacts 18 and 20, and, of course, by contact 30 of the relay I itself.

Therelay E is provided with a pick-up circuit which passes from terminal F of a suitable source of current, through front point of contact 32 ofrelay L wire 33, .back contact 34 of track relay T, wires 35 andBO, winding of relay E and wire 37 to 'theiterminal -I of the same source of current. Thisrelayiis further provided with a stick circuit which passes from terminal F,.through.back contact 32 of relay L wire 38, front contact39 of relay E wires 40 and 36, winding ofrelay E and wire 37 to terminal K.

The auxiliary relay E is provided with circuits which are similar to those for relay E, that is to say, the pick-up circuit for relay E in: ludes the front point of contact 41 of relay L and back contact 43 of relay T whereas the stick circuit for relay E includcs the back point of contact 41 of relay L' and contact of relay E Located at the left-hand end of the stretch is a signal S which governs traflic from left to right, and located at the righthand end of this stretch is a signal S which governs trattic from right to left. Each of these signals, in the form here shown, is a light signal ccnnprising three lamps ti, Y and R, arranged when lighted to indicate proceed, caution" and stop, respectively. The caution indication given by lamp Y means that the stretch of track is occupied by a train moving in the direction in which the signal governs trafiic and that a following train is permitted to enter the stretch under full control. An auxiliary signal H is located a short distance to the right of point B. and a similar auxiliary signal H is located a short. distance to the left of point Each of these signals H is likewise of the light type. When a train moving toward the right enters the stretch of track shown in the drawing and approaches signal H, the train must come to a stop and back out of the stretch unless this signal is lighted. Similarly, when a train moving toward the left enters the stretch and approaches signal H the train must stop and back out of the stretch unless this signal is lighted.

Signal S is provided with a proceed indication circuit which passes from terminal F of a suitable source f current through the front point of contact 50 of relay L wire 1, front point of contact 7 2 of relay T wire 53, lamp i, and wire 54 to terminal K of the same source of current. This signal is provided with a caution circuit which passes from terminal F, through front point of contact 50 of relay L, wire 51, back oint of ontact 52 of track relay T, wires 55 and .76, front point of contact 57 of relay E wire 58, caution lamp Y, and wire 54 to terminal K. This caution circuit will be closed when relay L is closed, relay T" is open, and relay E is closed. Signal S provided with another caution circuit which passes from terminal F, through back point. of contact 50. wires 60 and 56, front point of contact 57, wire 58, caution lamp Y, and wire 54 to terminal K. This caution indication circuit will be closed when relay L is open and relay E is closed. Signal S is provided with a stop indication circuit which passes from terminal F, through the. front. point of contact 50 of relay L wire 51, back point of contact 52 of track relay T", wires 55 and 56, back point of contact 57 of relay E wire 59, stop lamp H, and wire 54 to terminal K. This circuit will be closed when track relay T is open, auxiliary relay E is open, and line relay L is closed. Signal S is provided with another stop indication circuit which passes from terminal F, through the hack point of contact 50, wires 60 and 50, back point of coir tact. 57. wire 59, lamp R, and wire 5% t terminal K. This circuit will be closed when relays L and E are both opened.

Signal S is provided with circuits which are similar to those just explained for sig nal S. and which will, therefore, be obvious from the drawing without detailed deription.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. is as follows:

Assuming that a train moving toward the. right enters the stretch of track shown in the drawing, when such train passes point. A it will open track relay T thereby opening at contact 18 the circuits for line relay L. The opening of line relay L will close at the hack point of contact the stop indication circuit for signal S and so the. stop lamp R of this signal will become lighted. The opening of track relay T opens at. contact 11 the pick-up circuit for relay L but this relay does not open because its stick circuit closed at, contact id. The opening of track relay T closes at c ntact $31 the pick-up circuit for relay E but owing t the slow pick-up chara teristic f this relay it does not (los its front contacts for a considerable interval of time. The opening of track rela T opens at the front point of Contact 52 the proce d indication circuit for signal and loscs at the lmcl: point of Contact 5: a stop ind cation circuit for this signal, so that ump R becomes lighted. As soon as the front contacts of auxiliary relay E bet-one" clos d. the stop indication circuit. for signal S s opened at the back point of contact 57 of this relay and a caution indication circuit is closed at the front point of contact .37. so that lamp Y becomes lighted. As the train enters the main section i it opens track relay T and the opening of front Contact 20 of this relay keeps the circuit for line relay If open as long as the train is any part of the main section. The 01181!- ing of contact S of tra k relay T o' vens the stick circuit for line relay L so that this relay then opens. Relay li closes the stick circuit for the auxiliary relay E" at the ba k point of ciuitact Iii. so that relay F remains closed. Signal S continucs to g w a caution indication, however. hwause a circuit for lamp Y is now closed through the front point of contact 57 of relay E and th back point of contact 50 of relay L As soon as relay E closes its front contacts. the auxiliary signal H becomes lighted through .iti

a circuit which passes from terminal F. through eontaet til of relay E wire ti: and the lamp of signal H to terminal K. It signal H is lighted as the train appriiiarhes this signal. the train is authorized to proeeed through the stretch of track. is the train enters section (TD. it eauses traet; relay T" to open. thereby keeping relay I. open at Contact 25. and keeping relay L open at eontact 4. Relay E" does not elo e because its pick-up eireuit is open at th front point of Contact ll of relay L. (onsequently. there is no change in the signal indications until the rear end of the train passes point I). \Vhen this oeenrs trael: relay T closes. thereby closing at ii-ontaet l the piek-up circuit for line relay l)". The elosing, of relay TL" opens at eonta t 32 the stick eireuit for relay E so that this ielzr now opens. Relays L and T both being elosed. the eireuit for proeeed lamp (E of signal S hec-omes energized. The closing of contact 2? of traek relay T" eompletes the piek-up eireuit for relay L". so that this relay beeonies closed. and sinee trael: relay T is already Closed. the pi'oeeeil indiration for signal S beeomes energized.

'hile a train moying toward the right oeenpies the main Section I. I( or th righ hand preliminary section ("-D. a t'ol onin; train moving toward the right will reeei e a caution indication at signal S. Sui-h following train may then enter the streteti but will eause no change in the signal indieations because it will not atteet the air.- iliary relay E. and the eaution itltli jill'iiilt il'ijtlit of signal S is complete through ntaet 57 of relay E and eontaet .30 of rela If. It follows that any number of trains moving in the same direetion may proce d through the stretch of trael: at the same time. and that each train after the iii-st w ll reeeiye a eaution indication at signal 5 and a proeeed indieation at signal ll.

The operation of the apparatus during the passage of a train or trains moving toward the left is the same as the operation during the passage of a train or trainsmoying toward the right. and so no further explanations is r quired.

\Vhile a train is moving toward the right and is in the main StfPtlfil] B--( it is p ssible that sneh train may run on to a anded seetion of tra k rails, so that trai-h relay T will elose momentarily. In this event. line relay I. will elose. auxiliary relay E uill le open. and line relay U will i'lusi. .\u\'iliary relay E. however. eauuot elose beeause its pick-up eireuit is open at eontaet {3 of tiatk relay T". it follows that as soon as the train passes oil' of the sanded portion of traek and track relay T opens. all four relays L E E and L. will be open and both signals S and S will intlieate stop:

\Vhile a train is moving toward the left lll set-thin l'i h it a sanded portion of trael; rails should be eneountered. the result will he the smile as before: that is. reluj E cannot heroine energized beeause it: pit-l;- iip eil'eiiit is open at. ronta l 34 ot traeli relay T and so when the trael: relay T again opens. both of the end signals N and S will indieate stop. and both of the intermediate signals ll and l-l will be e\- tinguished.

it two ears moving in opposite direetions should pass points A and D. respeetively. at the same instant. traek relays T and T will open siniilltaneon ly. Relays Ti and L" will then both be opened. l niler this eonilition auxiliary relay F." may her ine energiZeil it there is a sufiieietit time interval be twe n the rlosing ot ba l: eontaet 4:2 of tra l; re ay T and the opening of the front point of eonta t all of line relay li It relay li thus heroines elosei'l. its stiel; irciiit will he eloseil as soon as eonta t ll opens and so relay l l will remain elosed. Relay E eain not i-lose. however. be ause of its slow picku eliaiaeteristie. and so signal S and signal H will both inilieate stop. It relay l e oses and remains eloseil signal S will inilir-i au ion and intermediate signal H will be energr/aal. o that a t ain moving from igh to left may proeeed through the streteh ot Lra lc. whereas the train nioying from lel't to right. upon Finding signal ll" eitingoif heil. ninst bael: tip to iding X nd wait there un il it re iye a proeeed in'li ati n ;-.t signal f It. is, th refore. inipussilile tll' (Wu i':il' HmViliQ' iu i'ippuisltt tl ileeti ns and ent ring the treteh of trael; -D at the sanu ime to reeeiye l l'ti 't'ttl indirations at the intermediate signals ll and H only one ear ran reeei e sueh an indication at ne of these signals. and the other ear ill be requ red to liaelt ont ot the streteh of single traelr.

Referring now to hi2. 3. the 'ii"-iiits For the eoiilrol ot relais L it. l7 aitl T1 are the same as the ireiiits or thes relavs in Fig. l. The trael; ireiiits are likewise the same that in preliminar seetion .\--l 'i the tran former and the relay are a the left and right-hand enil o tlus etimi. y mc tiyr-ly i3!-ii'1i*l Hf tlif litj' it lllil anil einls ol the so than a s in Fig. l. Rimi larly. the li'fl sfot'lner fllhl relay to" :-e 'tio': (l are reversed in positii'iii wi h res-pee; it) Fig. l. lli Fig. 2 signal is ltififlt tl at point B and signal Sc is loea ed at point C. the intermediate signals H o" Fig. l he lllQ' omitted.

Ri-"fPll'lll t it lfl'ti ll SP. tho eii'm it l m' tll'." iiroeeed lamp is from termina l hrough the hael; point of eontaet 37 of relay E". wire 77 front poiiit of eon aet 3t) oi relay L wire. T6. lamp t. and wire 54 to terminal K. The eireuit for the eantion lamp too llt)

Y is from terminal F, through the front point of contact 57 of relay E wire 77, lamp Y, and wire 5st to terminal K. The circuit for the stop lamp R is from terminal F, through back point of contact 57, wire 75, back point of contact 50, wire 78, stop lamp R and wire 54 to terminal K.

The circuits tor signal s are similar to those for signal S and will be understood without further explanation.

As a car or train moving toward the right enters section A-B, the opening of track relay T will close the pick-up circuit for relay E so that after the interval of time. determined by the characteristics of this relay, the relay will close. When this occurs, the caution indication for signal S will be closed at contact 57. and this caution indication is maintained as long as the train occupies any part of the stretch of track between points A and D. The opening of track relay T of course. opens relay L thereby closing at the back point of con tact 65 the circuit for the stop lamp R of signal S This signal. therefore. continues to indicate stop as long as the train moving toward the right occupies any portion of the stretch. In all other respects the oper ation in Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope ot my invention.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim is:

1. In combination, a stretch of single track used by trailic moving in both directions and divided into a main track section and a preliminary track section at each end of the main section. a track circuit including a track relay for each section. a line relay adjacent each end of the stretch and having a pick up circuit controlled by all of said track relays, a stick circuit for each line relay controlled by the track relay for the main section and the track relay for the preliminary section at the opposite end of the stretch but not by the track relay for the preliminary section at the end at which the line relay is located. an auxiliary relay adjacent each end of the stretch. a pick up circuit for each auxiliary relay including a front contact of the adjacent line relay and a back contact of the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section, astick circuit for each auxiliary relay including a back contact of the adjacent line relay, and sig uals for the stretch controlled by said relays.

2. In combination, astretch of single track used by traflic moving in both directions and divided into a main track section and a preliminary track section at each end of the main section, a track circuit including a track relay for each section, a line relay adjacent each end of the stretch and having a pick up circuit controlled by all of said track relays, a stick circuit for each line relay controlled by the track relay for the main section and the track relay for the preliminary section at the opposite end of the stretch but not by the track relay for the preliminary section at the end at which the line relay is located, an auxiliary relay adjacent each end of the stretch, one of said auxiliary relays having the characteristic of picking up slowly When energized and the other of said auxiliary relays having the characteristic of picking up quickly when energized. a pick-up circuit for each auxiliary relay including a front contact of the adjacent line relay and a back contact of the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section, a stick circuit for each auxiliary relay including a back contact of the adjacent line relay, and signals for the stretch controlled by said relays.

3. In combination, a stretch of single track used by traflic moving in both directions and divided into a main track section and a preliminary track section at each end of the main section, a track circuit including a track relay for each section, a line relay adjacent each end of the stretch and having a pick up circuit controlled by all of said track relays, a stick circuit for each line relay controlled by the track relay for the main section and the track relay for the preliminary section at the opposite end ot the stretch but not by the track relay for the preliminary section at the end at Which the line relay is located, an auxiliary relay adjacent each end of the stretch. a pick up circuit for each auxiliary relay including a front contact of the adjacent line relay and a back contact of the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section, a stick circuit for each auxiliary relay including a back contact of the adjacent line relay. a signal ad jacent each end of said stretch; means for causing each signal to indicate proceed when the adjacent line relay and the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section are both closed, caution when the adjacent auxiliary relay is closed, and either the adjacent line relay or the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section is open, and stop when the adjacent auxiliary relay is open and either the adjacent line relay or the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section is open; an auxiliary signal adjacent each end of said main section. and means for causing each auxiliary signal to indicate proceed or stop according as the adjacent auxiliary relay is closed or open.

4. In combination, a stretch of single track used by traffic moving in both directions and divided into a main track section lltl) and a preliminary track section at each end of the main section, a track circuit including a track relay for each section, a line relay adjacent each end of the stretch and having a pick up circuit controlled by all of said track relays, a stick circuit for each line relay controlled by the track relay for the main section and the track relay for the preliminary section at the opposite end of the stretch but not by the track relay for the preliminary section at the end at which the line relay is located, an auxiliary relay adjacent each end of the stretch, a pick up circuit for each auxiliary relay including a front contact of the adjacent line relay and a back contact of the track relay for the ililjacent preliminary section, a stick circuit for each auxiliary relay including a back contact of the adacent line relay, a signal located adjacent each end of said main section; and means for causing each signal to indicate proceed when the adjacent line relay is closed and the adjacent auxiliary relay is open, caution when the adjacent auxiliary relay is closed, and stop when the ad jacent line relay and auxiliary relay are both open.

5. In combination, a stretch of single track used by trafiic moving in both directions and divided into a main track section and a preliminary track section at each end of the main section, a track circuit including a track relay for each section, a line relay adjacent each end of the stretch and having a pick up circuit controlled by all of said track relays, a stick circuit for each line relay controlled by the track relay for the main section and the track relay for the preliminary section at the opposite end of the stretch but not by the track relay for the preliminary section at the end at which the line relay is located, an auxiliary relay adjacent each end of the stretch, a pick up circuit for each auxiliary relay including a front contact of the adjacent line relay and a back contact of the track relay for the adjacent preliminary section, a stick circuit for each auxiliary relay including a back contact of the adjacent line relay, two signals for governing traffic in opposite directions in said stretch, a proceed indication circuit for each signal controlled by a from contact of the associated line relay, a cantion indication circuit for each signal controlled by a front contact of the associated auxiliary relay, and a stop indication circuit for each signal controlled by a back contact of the associated auxiliary relay.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

HENRY S. YOUNG. 

